“First and foremost, I’m a mother, a rancher and a lawyer with deep personal and professional roots in Kentucky’s coal country,” the former Democrat said. “As the Democratic Party continues its lurch to the left and its hyperfocus on policies that hurt the workforce and economic development in my region, I no longer feel it represents my values.”
“It has become untenable and counterproductive to the best interests of my constituents for me to remain a Democrat,” she said. “While it’s cliché, it’s true: I didn’t leave the party — the party left me.”
The news was celebrated by Robert Benvenuti, Chairman of the Republican Party of Kentucky.
“Like countless other Kentuckians, [Webb] has recognized that the policies and objectives of today’s Democratic Party are simply not what they once were, and do not align with the vast majority of Kentuckians,” he said.
“I always respected that [Webb] approached issues in a very thoughtful and commonsense manner, and that she never failed to keenly focus on what was best for her constituents,” he said. “It is my pleasure to welcome Sen. Robin Webb to the Republican Party.”
But the state’s Democratic Party lashed out at Webb, saying that she is “not a Democrat,” which may not be the burn they think it is.
“Senator Webb has chosen to join a political party that is currently working around the clock to take health care away from over a million Kentuckians, wipe out our rural hospitals, take food off the table of Kentucky families, and take resources away from our public schools,” Kentucky Democratic Party Chair Colmon Elridge said to Fox News Digital. “If those are her priorities, then we agree: she isn’t a Democrat.”
Lawmakers have been flipping parties all year.
Earlier this year, former Republican Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan officially switched to the Democratic Party.
The move follows years of tension between the Forsyth County Republican and GOP leadership after he publicly opposed President Donald Trump over efforts to reverse the results of the 2020 election in Georgia.
In 2021, Duncan announced he would not seek a second term as lieutenant governor under Brian Kemp and instead signaled interest in reshaping the party through a group he co-founded known as GOP 2.0.
In 2024, Duncan was reported to be a leading contender for a presidential ticket backed by the centrist organization No Labels. He later ruled out a White House bid.
Duncan said this week he is now joining the Democratic Party after serving roughly a decade as a Republican state representative and lieutenant governor.
The Georgia GOP announced on X in January that Duncan had received a formal expulsion from the party.
“Geoff Duncan having been formally expelled, we ask that you refer to him as ‘expelled Republican Geoff Duncan’ or ‘ousted Republican Geoff Duncan’ when you go to him for quotes trashing President Trump and the Republican Party,” the party wrote Jan. 6.
Duncan responded the same day.
“Hard to believe this is a good use of time for a party that’s only got a limited amount of time to figure out mass deportations, world peace, and global tariffs,” he wrote on X.
